Interesting idea being floated that Israel might become a member of NATO. As the Jerusalem Post reported, the suggestion was made two weeks ago by the Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino, although it was shot down by NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who said that

the issue of Israeli membership is not on the table.

Nevertheless, the same story reported that NATO has made an overture to Israel for closer ties:

Israel stepped up its relationship with NATO on Monday and received a delegation of multinational military officers who accompanied an AWAC early warning surveillance plane which they brought to show to the Israel Air Force. Head of the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force, Gen. Axel Tuttelman, said the AWAC plane, which contained unique surveillance capabilities, was brought to Israel as part of a larger effort to enhance security cooperation between NATO and Israel in the war on global terrorism.

Others are thinking the same way. At the Heritage Foundation last month, John Hulsman and Nile Gardiner wrote this about the Iran crisis:

The West has one ace left to play before a final showdown looms. Extending NATO membership to Israel could convince Iran’s Mullahs that developing a nuclear capability is not in their interest… Behind the scenes of the negotiations, many in continental Europe secretly wish that the U.S. would simply accept the possibility of an Islamic Republic of Iran with a nuclear arsenal. They ignore, however, the harsh reality of such a foolhardy policy. The fallout from inaction would be disastrous. An arms race in the region would ensue, with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt all vying to develop their own nuclear weapons. Iran would become increasingly vociferous in its threats against Israel and could actively arm the myriad terrorist groups that depend upon Tehran’s protection. Israel would not play along with this game of Russian roulette. The world would shortly face a major regional conflict, possibly involving the use of nuclear weapons.

There is a way out of the present diplomatic morass that will signal to the Mullahs in Tehran that the West is serious about reining in their nuclear ambitions, but without allowing them to destabilize the Middle East. The United States should propose the quick admission of Israel into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a full and equal member.

Israel meets NATO qualifications: it is a democracy, has a free market economy, and is able to contribute to the common defense. In fact, unlike many new NATO members, it would be a net addition to the alliance, having lift and logistics ability, a second-to-none officer corps, and a first-rate military capable of all aspects of war-fighting. Israel spends nearly 10 percent of its GDP on defense and has active armed forces numbering 167,000 men and women, with 358,000 in reserve. It possesses up to 200 nuclear warheads, as well as a well-equipped Air Force and Navy.

Israel’s intelligence capabilities have been a vital asset in prosecuting the Global War on Terror, as few understand the conflict so well. Like the U.S. and Great Britain, history has forced Israel into being a genuine warrior nation. Its accession to NATO could only enhance the alliance’s capabilities.

More importantly, Israeli accession to NATO would explicitly extend the Western alliance’s nuclear deterrent to cover Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Now it will be Tehran, and not the rest of the world, that has a proliferation problem. Any nuclear or conventional attack on Israel, be it direct or through proxies such as Hezbollah or other terrorist groups, would be met by a cataclysmic response from the West that would make the Battle of Omdurman look like a stroll in the park. Israel’s accession would leave the Mullahs with no illusions about the West’s determination to respond to Iran’s strategic threat to the region.

It would also be an unmistakeable riposte to the campaign of delegitimisation of Israel now under way in Europe which is so thoughtfully preparing the ground for Ahmadinejad’s declared goal of wiping Israel off the map. Ever since it was created, the so-called civilised world has paid pious lip-service to support for beleaguered little Israel, but has nevertheless been happy to watch it swing in the wind while the same so-called civilised world has breathed life into the Palestinian terrorist onslaught against it and prevented Israel from doing anything better than maintaining itself in a state of permanent and unending siege (rather than actually being exterminated. Which would rather give the game away). Making Israel a member of NATO would show once and for all that this so-called civilised world is really committed to Israel’s existence and that it recognises that Israel’s position is the same as that of the west – a democracy merely defending itself against the jihad and not, as some would assert, its cause.

Posted by melanie at February 26, 2006